The Myth of Multitasking

1. Multitasking Exercise

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH-i1t8eZ8o
• Add TV, music, random talking to students to mimic other forms of interference

2. Small Group (3-4 students) Discussion

• (write answers on butcher paper)
• Define Multitasking
• List all the other things a student might be doing while also doing his/her HW
• Discuss whether you think multitasking affects their ability to do their HW and/or their ability to learn and remember the information.

3. Group Sharing

4. Facts about Multitasking

• (Prezi: http://prezi.com/rkyfornrui-z/multitaskiing/)
• (resource: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH-i1t8eZ8o)

• Brain can’t do 2 tasks at once. The brain can only focus on one thing at a time.
• It switches back and forth between the tasks.
• In order to do this, it needs to stop and remember what the rules/goals of the new task are before doing that task.
• Each time, it switches focus between the tasks, it needs to reevaluate

• Time – takes at least twice as long to do a task than if you just did one task all at once followed by the next task.
• Errors – make 50% more errors.
• Remember Less – in order to remember something, your brain has to process and encode the information.

5. Whole Group Brainstorm: How can you reduce your multitasking while studying